Growing Ageratum from Seed Commonly called floss flower, ageratum has fuzzy, button-like blooms that attract pollinators to the yard. The quarter-inch (6 mm.) fringed flowers grow in dense, one-inch (2.5 cm.) clusters from midsummer to fall. Green leaves are oval to heart-shaped. Besides blue, ageratum cultivars include shades of white, pink, and bicolor in dwarf plants as well as tall plants ideal for cutting. Choose a sunny site to grow ageratum or if summers are really hot, part shade is preferred....

Wondering when to repot pothos? Pothos repotting is largely optional and, like every other maintenance task, very easy. Meet the World’s Easiest Houseplant Pothos has a variety of common names ranging from golden pothos to devil’s ivy, but nobody ever calls it a temperamental houseplant. It hails from the island of Mo’orea in French Polynesia, but has naturalized in many other tropical and subtropical forested areas in Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Pacific islands....

How to Transplant Pampas Grass In many small gardens, one pampas grass plant may quickly outgrow the area in which it is planted. Though the process of pampas grass transplanting is relatively simple, it is also quite labor-intensive. Moving pampas grass or dividing it must be done early in the spring before any new growth has started. To begin transplanting pampas grass, the plants will first need to be pruned. Since the grass can be relatively sharp, carefully remove the foliage down to about 12 inches (30....

What is Gummosis? Gummosis is a nonspecific condition where sap leaks from a wound in the tree. It usually occurs when the tree has a perennial or bacterial canker or is attacked by the peach tree borer. However, gummosis can also be caused by any wound to a stone fruit tree, including winter damage, disease damage, or damage from a gardening tool. If you see gummy sap leaking out of your peach, plum, cherry, or apricot tree, it is probably gummosis....

What is Hull Rot? Nut crops with hull rot are often greatly diminished, and even worse, the disease will destroy the affected wood so that it dies. Hull rot can be caused by one of two fungal species: Rhizopus stolonifera causes black spores inside a split hull and Monilinia fructicola produces tan-colored spores inside and outside the hull after it has split. Before you can see the spores, though, you may see leaves on a small affected branch wither and then die....

About Hummingbird Feeder Pests Many gardeners view hummingbirds as very desirable guests in the backyard. Their bright colors are beautiful and it is a pleasure to watch the little creatures darting from flower to flower. One way of encouraging hummers to visit the garden is to hang out hummingbird feeders. Experts recommend that you use clear feeders with multiple feeding stations. Hummingbirds are partial to red flowers, so pick a feeder with red trim....

Can Strawberries Be Grown Hydroponically? Not all crops can be grown hydroponically, but as it turns out strawberries can be cultivated in a greenhouse setting. These operations have gained popularity in countries such as the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. Yet, strawberries are grown mainly outdoors in the US. Although estimates vary, somewhere between 20,000 and 38,000 acres of land in California are dedicated to strawberry production. With so much available land for year-round strawberry production, it’s no wonder the technology for indoor strawberry farming in the US lags behind that of European and Asian countries....

How to Grow Okra If you’re thinking about planting okra, remember that it’s a warm season crop. Growing okra requires a lot of sunshine, so find a place in your garden that doesn’t get much shade. Also, when planting okra, be sure there is good drainage in your garden. When you prepare your garden area for planting okra, add 2 to 3 pounds (.9-.36 kg.) of fertilizer for every 100 square feet (9....

While eliminating Japanese beetles can be challenging, one of the things you can do is to grow plants that deter Japanese beetles or plants that don’t attract Japanese beetles. Either of these options will allow you to have a garden that will not become an annual smorgasbord for Japanese beetles. Plants That Deter Japanese Beetles While it may seem amazing, there are actually plants Japanese beetles avoid. The typical kind of plant that will help to drive away Japanese beetles will be strong smelling and may taste bad to the insect....

What is a Tree Flare? If you aren’t experienced with tree planting, you may be curious about tree flares. A tree flare, also called root flare, is the broadening of a tree’s trunk just above the soil line. Is root flare important to a tree’s health? It is very important as an indication of where the trunk ends and the root system begins. Most roots are found in the 12 inches (30....

How to Prune a Jade Plant The first thing to consider when deciding if you should trim your jade plant is to ask: does your jade plant really need to be pruned? Typically, jade plant pruning is done only on older, overgrown plants. Pruning jade plants is not necessary for the health of the plant and is done only for aesthetic reasons. Be aware that any time you prune a plant you are exposing the plant to potential bacterial damage, which could weaken or even kill the plant....

Disease in Jasmine Plants Jasmine plant problems do not occur very frequently, and the plant thrives if it receives attention that mimics its tropical to sub-tropical native region. Jasmine diseases can threaten the foliage, roots, flowers and overall health of the plant. Sometimes they are the result of excess moisture in overly warm conditions; sometimes an insect vector is the cause. The variety of common diseases of jasmine is as broad as it is in any plant, but the first step to diagnosis is to ensure you are giving proper care....

Growing Summer Flowers in Kentucky Heat A well-established flower bed or border can create a welcoming garden space. In addition to often needed curb appeal, a profusion of blooms will be quite attractive to pollinators and beneficial insects. While some flowers in Kentucky heat will wilt, others will thrive. To begin choosing flowering plants suited to Kentucky gardens, first consider the plant’s growth requirements and characteristics. Let’s take a closer look at several popular flower options....

What Is Lasagna Planting? Lasagna planting means planting layers of early, mid, and late spring blooming bulbs on top of each other. One benefit of growing bulbs in containers is that you can plant them later than you would in the garden. You don’t have to worry about the ground freezing and if the weather gets too cold, you can always store pots indoors. To get started all you need are your favorite bulbs, potting soil, and a pot....

What is Late Blight of Tomato Plants? Late blight of tomatoes is the result of Phytophthora infestans and is notorious as the cause of the Irish potato famine during the 1800’s. Although it shares some similarities, P. infestans is not a fungus nor is it a bacterium or a virus, but rather belongs to a class of organisms called protists. Sometimes referred to as water molds, protists thrive in humid, moist environs, produce spores and spread when water is on the plant’s foliage....

What is Bearded Tooth Fungus? Bearded tooth is a mushroom that you can feel confident about collecting in the wild because it has no look-alikes, either poisonous or non. Although they aren’t common, you can sometimes find them in the fall in shady forests. The bearded tooth fungus habitat is the trunks of old beech or oak trees. The mushrooms grow in wounds in the tree trunk, and they are a sign that the tree has heart rot....

About the Passion Flower The passion flower is a beautiful tropical-looking vine, though not native to tropical regions. In spite of its tropical appearance, the passion flower, also known as the Maypop because it pops out of the ground in May, is actually native to the southeastern United States and can be seen growing along roadsides, open fields, and even in some wooded areas. The passion flower was named by early missionaries in the early 1500’s, who believed parts of the plant symbolized features of the crucifixion of Christ....

How Long Does a Lemon Take to Ripen? Healthy lemon trees produce an abundance of fruit, so be sure that you are taking good care of your tree at all times. From the time a small, green lemon appears on your tree, it will generally take several months to ripen depending on the variety. When to Harvest a Lemon Lemons are ready to pick as soon as they are yellow or yellow-green in appearance and firm....

About Lettuce ‘Anuenue’ The lettuce ‘Anuenue’ has delicious, crisp green leaves that are never bitter. That’s a great recommendation in and of itself for growing Anuenue lettuce, but the real attraction is its heat tolerance. In general, lettuce is known as a cool weather crop, coming into its own before and after other summer veggies are ready for harvest. Unlike most of its cousins, Anuenue lettuce has seeds that will germinate at warmer temperatures, even 80 degrees F....

Maggots in Vermicompost Keeping a worm bin can force you to come to terms with the varied creatures that help break down living tissues. For many, these pests in vermicompost have come to be associated with filth and disease, but the truth is that many are complementary to your worm bin. One of the most commonly friendly foes is the black soldier fly. Outdoor worm bins are perfect environments for soldier fly larvae to develop, resulting in the appearance of maggots in vermicompost....